Issues always exist in seat pacts: Left

Left Front chairman Biman Bose on Sunday admitted that there were some “issues” over the seat adjustment with the Congress ahead of the Assembly election, while CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra said there were no issues in this regard in 90 per cent of the total seats. However, both the leaders were of the view that this should not lead to the division of Opposition votes. “When it comes to seat adjustments, some issues do exist. We cannot say that we have found solutions for every seat,” Mr Bose said at a press conference.

It was Left Front’s constituent RSP which was reluctant to leave four seats for Congress in Murshidabad. Even state Congress president Adhir Chowdhury expressed his displeasure with the RSP’s decision.

Among the 22 seats in Murshidabad district, the CPI(M) has fielded its candidates in eight seats out of which there will be a friendly-contest with the Congress in four seats — Domkal, Hariharpara, Sagardighi and Jangipur. Left Front partner RSP has fielded its candidates in five seats — Bharatpur, Suti, Raghunathganj, Burwan and Nowda. Among these, there will be a friendly contest with the Congress in four seats except Bharatpur. However, the Congress wants the RSP to withdraw its candidates from the four seats. The RSP has declined such proposals.

As a result, the seat adjustments with the Congress remained incomplete.

So far, the Left Front has fielded its candidates in 217 seats and the Congress has announced its candidates in 84 seats and wants to contest in another 10 seats. Out of 294 seats in Bengal Legislative Assembly, there will be a friendly contest between both the parties in 17 seats.

Admitting that there was still some problems in seat adjustments with the Congress, CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra said, “We have already completed the seat adjustment process in 90 per cent of the total seats. But we cannot let the Opposition votes get divided.” Mr Mishra further urged his party workers to support the Congress in places where there was no friendly contest between them.